As a graduate of Carrick High School, I understand firsthand the importance of student safety and the vital role that personal devices play in maintaining that safety. I was present during a gun related incident, and in such situations, mobile phones serve as a crucial lifeline, providing the means to connect with authorities and loved ones immediately. However, the December 17, 2025, revisions to Policy 216, which passed unanimously, threaten to undermine this vital safety net by mandating that students must turn in their devices to school personnel while school is in session.

This blanket rule strips away the discretion previously held by school based Discipline Committees and principals to tailor policies that suit their unique needs and context . Expecting understaffed personnel to manage the collection and oversight of these devices is impractical and places an undue burden on school resources. Furthermore, the revised policy now explicitly includes school buses and all school related activities under the definition of District Property, meaning students are effectively stripped of their communication tools even while traveling to and from school.

Most concerning is the issue of property rights and liability. While the School Board now mandates that students must relinquish their personal electronic devices, the policy explicitly states that the District shall not be liable for the loss, damage, or misuse of any device brought to school . It is fundamentally unjust to force students to surrender expensive personal property while the school district refuses to take responsibility for its safety.

Moreover, the ability to hold onto personal devices is a matter of student expression and free speech. For many students, phones and other devices offer a platform for self expression and connectivity. It is essential that we restore the authority to school level decision makers like principals and Discipline Committees, allowing them the freedom to craft policies that reflect the diverse needs of their student bodies. We urge the Pittsburgh School Board Directors listed above to repeal the December 17, 2025, revisions and restore the discretion to local schools to ensure a safer and more expressive learning environment.

https://go.boarddocs.com/pa/pghboe/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DP7M265914EC

Discussion thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/pittsburgh/comments/1pq2n25/